Little settled with Rios’ win

The Cuban lightweight thought he had done more than enough to beat Brandon Rios and win the WBA lightweight title Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Unfortunately for Abril, judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge didn’t see it that way.

Both had Rios winning, and it was enough to give Rios a 12-round split decision before an announced crowd of 3,705. Roth scored it 116-112 while Trowbridge had Rios ahead 115-113. Adalaide Byrd had Abril winning, 117-111.

“The scoring was a disgrace,” said Abril (17-3-1), who not only stood to win a world title but would have picked up a $50,000 bonus had he gotten the decision. “I thought I won by four or five rounds. I had a height, reach and power advantage. It never crossed my mind I could lose.”

For Rios (30-0-1), who was a minus-500 betting favorite, there is no title since he failed to make weight Friday after two attempts to reach the 135-pound limit — he was 137, then 139 — and the title remains vacant. But his quest to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, still has life.

“(Abril) was an awkward fighter,” Rios said. “I didn’t fight at my best. I felt good physically, but obviously I need to move to 140 pounds; 140, here I come.

“But I thought I won the fight. You can win a fight just by holding.”

However, Top Rank president Todd duBoef said Saturday that Rios isn’t guaranteed that spot opposite Marquez (54-6-1), who dominated Sergey Fedchenko (30-2) in winning a 12-round unanimous decision in Mexico City shortly after Rios won his bout.

“We reserved Cowboys Stadium on July 14 for Marquez,” duBoef said. “Rios is just one possible opponent.”

Abril got away with holding for a good portion of the fight but also outboxed Rios, and Rios never hurt him. Rios did a good job with his jab, and Abril’s ability to tie up Rios on the inside and not let him unleash his power proved critical. Rios constantly complained to referee Vic Drakulich that Abril was holding him. Drakulich warned Abril a couple of times but never deducted a point for holding.

But while some might question the officiating, the scoring of the fight proved far more controversial. The judges agreed on only six of the 12 rounds. And in the end, Rios got the decision but not the title. However, Abril remains the WBA interim lightweight champ.

“I did try to make 135,” Rios said. “I worked very hard to try. I sweated my ass off. I just couldn’t get there. I don’t blame anyone but myself. I would love the opportunity to face Marquez. I’m not afraid of anybody. I’ll let my manager, Cameron Dunkin, handle all that.”

If Rios and Marquez don’t meet in July, perhaps Mike Alvarado deserves a shot after the 140-pounder from Denver outgunned a game Mauricio Herrera over 10 rounds to win a unanimous decision.

Alvarado (33-0) took the fight to Herrera, but Herrera (18-2) showed great courage, continuing to fight back despite his left eye being badly swollen early on and his right eye also swelling in the latter stages.

“I want Marquez, I deserve Marquez, and I’m ready for Marquez,” Alvarado said. “I paid my dues, and I have no weight issues.”

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who flew back to Las Vegas for the Mandalay Bay fight card after attending his grandson’s bar mitzvah in Israel, said Alvarado will be considered as a possible Marquez opponent.

“(Alvarado) put himself in a very good position with what he did (Saturday).” Arum said.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.